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Pictures of Cohune Acres
See some of the fun things going on at Cohune Acres click this link

Power Distribution Installed on South Road

We now have power available for 13 Lots.

Ten of those lots are still "For Sale".  



BEL brings in 700 volt on the upper high voltage lines.

Then down through the transformer producing 120/240 volt power. 

This shot was during May 2014 dry season,,, still nice and green.   



Our yard



Six months after initial clearing,,, a major burn 

and second  pass with excavator rake to clean up roots and smaller logs.

Notice the small Cohune Palm to the right,,, very protected. We were selective as possible, keeping as many big trees as possible around the foot print of a house.

Power Service Entrance



  


BEL specifies a concrete service entrance post. We poured one in three stages, base, bottom half, top half.







Ratchet straps,,, right up there with the inclined plane and invention of the wheel, fantastic.




Form work braced straight and plumb with bush stick.
Four man bucket brigade to pour hand mixed concrete.



My buddy Rob,,,, 
shade at the end 
of a hot busy day.
C/W 200 ft of 3"power and 
1 1/2" duct in trench. 




We used board wood cut with a chain saw from logs on our property by "Eric the board wood cutter".
The chain saw wood stamped a really unique surface to the concrete.



Our on site brochure with Belize phone contact
Or give me a call, Dave Brown 403 650-7451, for any questions regarding Cohune Acres.

 

 

Pictures of Cohune Acres

To see some of the fun things going on at Cohune Acres click this link


http://www.flickr.com/photos/79246772@N06/

Power Distribution For the South Road Next

Last year we installed 120/240 volt power distribution to the lots on the middle road.
The two fastest growing coconuts just happen to be under the power lines.
Unfortunately they need to go once they grow up into the power lines.
 Can't remember where  those starter nuts came from but wow this variety is fast growing.
 I have collected and planted coconuts from all over Belize. 

 
In front of the power poles we put out 100 miniature royal palms. They will grow to full maturity and never get into the wires. They look nice, to boot.
Angelo in the distance.
 
This year we have paid for the installation of power distribution on the south road.
The next time I see this (April 2014) there will be power distribution along the fence line.
This power distribution will supply lots #14 to #18 with 120/240 volt power.
Then in the following wet season we'll have a 100 miniature palms to set in front.
They obscure the power poles and provide a nice clean green look in the fore front.
Here is a pic of a miniature palm emerging with the first shoot.
Here's a hundred or more mini palms
And yet a couple hundred more... if you got them plant them!

Moving Foreword

Very exciting times around Cohune Acres. Chef Rob and Corrie from Hopkins bought a little slice of jungle paradise. Seems they are looking to grow some supplies for the food chain or hobby farm, they are not decided. With the rich soil we have there, they have made a good choice. When you see the skinny red car turning into Cohune Acres you'll know they are around.
 
 Sure would like to order more SOLD signs ... make me an offer lets see what happens!
 
 
Here are some pics from an outing April 2012. My Maya buddies have a farm up in the hills just south of Mama Noots Eco Lodge, Zip Line and Water Fall Repelling. I like to help them take a heavy load down when the weather has cooperated enough for the treacherous road to dry up.
Monico packing plantains on his 58th birthday. Very heavy load. 
 Angelo laughing at his father packing too much.
Majestic Cohune Palm below
 Majestic Cohune above
The edge of their farm still a long hike to the Jeep.
Starting the load... by the time we were finished it was a slow trip down into Silk Grass.
Didnt' want to bust a spring or  a shock. Not even room for a passenger, just plantains.
 
My friends in Silk Grass, Juan and family minus daughter Marisela. I think she was at cadets or school.

Angelo's kids.
Golden hour lighting at the roadside BBQ Silk Grass.
That's it for today.
 
 
 
 
 

One Improvement After Another


Power poles and distribution are installed on the center road.
I'm a little disappointed in myself for not taking more pictures of this large expense. BEL did a nice job and caused no damage to the road with their heavy trucks. In fact they proved the road good and packed it tighter.

Check out the Power Poles in the background

Let's compare some before and after pictures.
Culverts and drainage are working great.

The newly installed additional culvert six months ago. Landscaping required.

The additional (far) culvert as it looks now Dec 2012. 
We have had lots of rain lately. Water trickles out of the bush for a few days after the rain stops.

South Road, six months ago, stripped by the grader, and re compacted.



Dec 2012 Looking Good. Thanks again to DEC and Son's out of Dangriga.
South road just after being cut with a lawn mower. Looks soft but it's hard as steel.
This is the toughest Cohune in the valley. It survived a roaring fire then a grader sheared it clean off the face of the planet and a compactor pounded the crap out of it. It is now protected!

 My buddy Glen, getting water for the new plants. Culvert wata yum yum ! !

Bought plants - split the doubles and chop the big ones into little ones
I have learned to compliment first and then ask for plant cuttings. Most strangers will go out of their way to provide samples. Just stick it in good soil and watch it grow. Here is my planting nursery. I am looking forward to providing cuttings as well some day.


Besides sharing my adventure ... just a reminder
 You can own a piece of this tropical paradise.
 
That's it for now I need to sort through the parrot and orchid pic's.

For anyone interested I will arrange a guided walk about.
Call me in Canada at 403 - 650 - 7451
Or feel free to check it out on your own.
Our grounds man is usually there.
Thank you, Dave Brown




Power Distribution Pricing Secured, Road and Drainage Improvement

  A few improvements in the subdivision. We had some wash out on the south road during heavy rains in the dry season?? I know - strange it did not happen during the last rainy season! This is a low area that collects water from the jungle and a portion of the south road ditch. Pictured here is the intake of the newly installed second culvert.                              

You can also see the origional culvert with vegetation around it about 4 feet away. The vegetation is important to eliminate errosion where water flow is concentrated. It's a relief to see the vegetation before errosion.  Grass will be better but I welcome the weeds for now!





Here is the output end of the two culverts, The new culvert was placed exactly where the washout occured. You can see some of the fines aggregate on the bench at the edge of the dug out. Again, bring on the vegetation!!

The dug out nicely acts as a settling pond before the water flows into the Silk Grass Creek. The creek is teaming with small fish, year round. It is not uncommon for the locals to drink water directly from the creek.





Once again DEC and Sons, the local road builder stepped up to the plate and provided a courtesy grader and packer for a few hours to improve the road cross section and make it similar to that of the center road which is perfect. They pulled alot of material that was spread a little too wide to create the proper crown in the road. I also had them run the packer on the center road just for good measure. Looking foreward to the grass growing back into the ditch area

Our grounds men phoned me in January, "Dave, the weeds and grass are taking over the road way. We want to buy some spray and kill it back". Me "no leave it, I think it will be OK".



Our grounds men called again in February, "Dave the weeds and grass are getting knee deep in the road way. We need to buy some spray and kill it back."  Me, "well ok but only about ten feet wide where the vehicles drive."

I regret letting the guys spray and kill back the weeds and vegatation on the road. So we agreed the roadway will be cut with the lawn mower when it grows back. The vehicles will beat down any grass and weeds once the road sees a little more traffic.

Here's the center road after an all morning rain storm. I was worried about errosion when leaving in December because it was just dirt on the sides with no grass. It turns out the drainage is great.The gentle curved ditches did not erode at all. A lawnmower can nicely get this and the grass is starting to look real good. The electric power is going in on the right of this road. Unfortunately BEL is going to cut the trees back about 10 feet to ensure the high voltage lines are safe from contacting the trees.












While out in Belize this May I paid BEL (Belize Electric Limited) and signed on the dotted line for power distribution installation to the center road lots.
 Pricing worked out to about $3000 USD per lot for power.
Shown here are the lot prices in USD.
I have allowed for "include" power to the property line for the north and south roads as well.
Power is going in on the center road immediately.